MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Ihemelu and Pickens Recalled to U.S. National Team

Published on January 29, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


COMMERCE CITY, COLO. (Thursday, January 29, 2009) - U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has called 20 players, including Colorado Rapids defender Ugo Ihemelu and goalkeeper Matt Pickens, back to U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., to begin preparations for the USA's first match of final round qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The U.S. will take on regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 11 in front of a sold-out crowd at Columbus Crew Stadium live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and Univision beginning at 5 pm MT. The match can be heard live on the Futbol de Primera radio networks, and fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.

The 20-man group is made up almost entirely of players who participated in the previous camp from Jan. 4-24 at the HDC.

The U.S. team will train in Carson for nine days before departing on Feb. 7 for Columbus.

Fourteen of the players on the roster appeared in the USA's 3-0 win against Sweden on Jan. 24. Coming in as a second half substitution, Ihemelu earned his second national team cap playing eight minutes against Sweden.

U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp Roster

Carson, Calif.

Jan. 29 - Feb. 7

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids)

DEFENDERS (5): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Ugo Ihemelu (Colorado Rapids), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)

FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 29, 2009


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